Basketball is a game of eras, defined not only by championship dynasties but also by the players who shape the very way the sport is played. From 2010 through the mid-2020s, one group of athletes redefined the NBA’s most cerebral and creative position: the point guard. Traditionally known as the “floor general,” point guards have always been tasked with orchestrating offense, setting tempo, and elevating teammates. But the 2010s and early 2020s witnessed something different—a generation that revolutionized the game by fusing skill, athleticism, and showmanship, giving rise to what many call the “golden age of point guards.”
Between 2019 and 2025, fans have slowly watched the twilight years of this remarkable era. The retirements, role reductions, and transitions of icons such as Chris Paul, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Damian Lillard, and Kyrie Irving have signaled the closing of a chapter. Their collective legacy, however, will endure in the DNA of the NBA and in the next wave of players who continue to borrow pages from their playbooks.
Chris Paul: The Pure Floor General
If there was a quintessential model of the classic point guard reimagined for the modern NBA, it was Chris Paul. By the time 2019 rolled around, Paul was already regarded as one of the best passers in league history, but his late-career resurgence with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, and later the Golden State Warriors highlighted his enduring brilliance. His leadership in steering Phoenix to the 2021 NBA Finals at age 36 became a storybook reminder of how intellect and court vision can outshine youth.
Paul’s legacy rests on his mastery of the pick-and-roll, his mid-range efficiency, and his knack for making every team better. He epitomized the phrase “coach on the floor,” and though he never captured the elusive championship, his influence on how young guards approach decision-making and tempo control is immeasurable. By the time he walked away in the mid-2020s, he had solidified himself as the standard for the position’s cerebral side.
Stephen Curry: The Revolutionist
No player changed basketball more during the 2010s than Stephen Curry. His limitless shooting range, quick release, and fearless confidence ushered in the three-point revolution, transforming not just the NBA but the way the game is taught at every level worldwide. By 2019, Curry had already cemented himself as a two-time MVP and three-time champion, but the seasons that followed saw him become the elder statesman of the Golden State dynasty, adding to his legacy with additional playoff heroics and even another title in 2022.
Curry’s influence cannot be overstated. He stretched defenses to their breaking point, forced coaches to rethink strategy, and inspired a generation of players who grew up practicing deep three-pointers instead of mid-range jumpers. More than that, Curry’s humility and joy in playing reshaped perceptions of superstardom. By the time the mid-2020s rolled around, Curry was not just a champion but a cultural icon—basketball’s equivalent of a musical genre-changer.
Russell Westbrook: The Relentless Force
If Curry embodied finesse and Paul embodied control, Russell Westbrook represented raw athletic ferocity. From his MVP season in 2017 to his historic streak of averaging triple-doubles across multiple seasons, Westbrook brought an intensity to the point guard position that few had ever seen.
By 2019, he was transitioning from the Oklahoma City Thunder to new challenges with the Rockets, Wizards, Lakers, and Clippers. Though critics often pointed to inefficiency or playoff shortcomings, his relentless motor, competitive fire, and stat-sheet dominance made him unforgettable. Few players embodied “never taking a play off” the way Westbrook did.
His legacy is one of defiance against traditional molds. Westbrook proved that a point guard could control the game not only through passing but through constant pressure, rebounding, and sheer willpower. For young players, he remains the blueprint for embracing individuality and attacking the game with unrelenting passion.
Damian Lillard: Loyalty and Clutch Gene
In an era defined by super-team movements and player mobility, Damian Lillard carved his own path. Representing the Portland Trail Blazers from his 2012 debut until his eventual departure in the early 2020s, Lillard built his reputation on loyalty, leadership, and a flair for the dramatic. His playoff walk-off shots against Houston in 2014 and Oklahoma City in 2019 became immortal highlights.
While Lillard eventually joined the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023 to chase championship aspirations, his bond with Portland remained a defining part of his story. He symbolized grit, commitment, and the belief that small-market teams could still produce legends. On the court, his deep shooting range, composure in clutch moments, and quiet confidence made him one of the most respected guards of his generation.
Kyrie Irving: The Artist of Handles
Kyrie Irving was basketball’s poet, a point guard whose artistry with the ball seemed to transcend reality. His handles were legendary, his finishes around the rim mesmerizing, and his 2016 Finals Game 7 dagger against Golden State forever etched into history.
The years between 2019 and 2025 were a rollercoaster for Irving, filled with brilliance on the court and controversies off it. His time with Brooklyn alongside Kevin Durant and James Harden promised a superteam dream but ultimately fell short of expectations. Later, with Dallas, he regained stability and reminded the world of his transcendent skill set.
Kyrie’s legacy will forever be debated, but no one can deny his impact as an artist of the game. For future generations, he showed that creativity, flair, and imagination can be as valuable as structure and discipline.
A Shared Legacy
Together, these five guards created a golden standard for what the position could be. They diversified the definition of a point guard: Paul proved the brain still mattered, Curry proved the three-point shot could be the foundation of an offense, Westbrook proved athleticism could bend the game’s logic, Lillard proved loyalty and clutch performance were timeless, and Irving proved artistry belonged in the NBA’s highest tiers.
From 2019 to 2025, fans gradually saw their minutes decline, their roles shift, and, for some, their retirements arrive. Yet their fingerprints remain everywhere—in the young stars like Ja Morant, Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Tyrese Haliburton who have borrowed pieces of their legacies to forge their own.
Conclusion
As the curtain closes on the era of the 2010s point guard legends, one truth remains clear: they were more than athletes. They were innovators, storytellers, and cultural touchstones. The years between 2019 and 2025 served as both a celebration and a farewell tour for players who reshaped basketball in ways still unfolding.
The legacy of Paul, Curry, Westbrook, Lillard, and Irving will not simply be remembered in stats or trophies but in the very way the game is now played and imagined. The era may have ended, but its echoes will guide basketball’s future for decades to come.
